Barcelona could leapfrog Chelsea in talks to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla this summer with the Calatan outfit open to a cash-plus-player deal with Sergino Dest going in the opposite direction.
The coveted France international Kounde has long been a name on the shopping list at Stamford Bridge with Thomas Tuchel keen to land his target a summer after negotiations with Sevilla came to a halt in the final stages.
With Tuchel losing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers ahead of the start of the next season, Kounde was expected to be a priority on the transfer front for the Blues who have the backing of their new owners.
According to a report from the Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, it is claimed that the Barca manager Xavi is on the lookout for defensive reinforcements and is keeping close tabs on Kounde with a potential offer likely to be tabled soon.
Gerard Pique is not tipped to hold a regular berth on the Barca team sheet come next season which has made Kounde a name to watch out for in the market for Xavi with American wing-back Dest set to be used as makeweight in the deal.
